Who can become a school governor?
The Board of Governors consists of:
- members representing the owners or former owners of the school
- parents and teachers who are elected by the parents and teachers associated with the school
- members of the general public with an interest in education who are appointed by the Department of Education or the Education Authority (EA) in your region
You have to complete an application form if you are a member of the public with an interest in a governor appointment. No special qualifications are required and you must be over 18 years of age
What do school governors do?
The role of the Board of Governors is to make sure that the school provides pupils with a good education. The Board of Governors sets the plans and policies of the school, employs the school staff and manages the spending of the school budget.
Watch a promotional video on becoming a school governor below:
You can find further information, application forms and booklet on the Department of Education (DE) website. An app is also available to make it easier for school governors to access the information they need to carry out their role effectively. The 'School Governors' NI' app is free to download from the following links on Google Play Store (for Andriod users) or the App Store (for Apple users).
What is involved?
A governor is appointed in a voluntary unpaid capacity for a four year term of office and can resign at any time. The Board of Governors meets as often as its business requires, which may be once a month, depending on the size of the school.
The Board of Governors will be made up of members with different skills, knowledge and experience. The business of the school is progressed by the whole Board of Governors working together in the best interests of the school children.
Every governor is expected to contribute to the conduct of school business and every governor can expect to learn something new. Training will be provided.